Pioneer wrestlers take second at MSOE Invitational
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team competed at the Milwaukee School of Engineering Invitational in Milwaukee, Wis. on Saturday.
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team competed at the Milwaukee School of Engineering Invitational in Milwaukee, Wis. on Saturday.
Senior Mason Bohm, freshman Grant Wedepohl and freshman D'Andre Johnson all won their respective weight classes for the Pioneers, who finished second overall as a team in the 11-team tournament.
Bohm pushed his way to the first place match after one pin and two close matches before defeating University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Joe Pelkey in a major decision 10-0 for the final match, giving him first place honors.
As for Wedepohl's path to the first place match, he pinned his opponent in his first match of the day in the second round, and followed that with another pin on his next opponent in the first round, taking him to the semifinal match for the 184 weight class. In the semifinal, Wedepohl won by a major decision, 12-3, against Concordia's Mitchell Slatton, which led him to the first place match where he would face fellow Pioneer wrestler Cody Meyer. After a hard fought three rounds, Wedepohl finished on top by a 3-2 decision over Meyer, who placed second for the Pioneers.
With a first match bye at the tournament, Johnson dominated his next opponent, pinning him at the beginning of the second round. In the semifinal match, Johnson won by a major decision, 15-7, taking him to face Millikin University's Frank Tomaskovic in the first place match. After three rounds, Johnson prevailed with a 10-3 decision, giving him the heavyweight title.
Multiple Pioneers also placed well in their respective weight classes, including junior Zach Stenger with a fifth place finish, sophomore Kody Azarian with a second place finish, freshman Kyle Benjamin with a fifth place finish, senior Gunnar Melstrand with a fourth place finish, sophomore Isaac Brosinski with a fifth place finish, freshman Jon Goetz with a sixth place finish and senior Bryant Etherton with a third place finish.
The Pioneers return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at 7 p.m.
Written by: Carly Willman, University Information and Communications, 608.342.1194, willmanc@uwplatt.edu